New Delhi: Doyang Lake in Nagaland, famous as a roosting site for longest travelling raptors Amur Falcons, will be developed as an eco-tourism spot for bird-watchers, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today said. “Centre will soon develop Doyang Lake area as eco-tourism spot for bird-watchers to have a wonderful and rare sight of Amur Falcons, which come to roost every year at Doyang lake during their flight from Mongolia to South Africa,” the Minister, who was enthused by the sight of millions of Amur falcons in just 30 minutes of his visit, said.
With two of the three Amur falcons tagged with satellite tracking chips last year returning to Nagaland, the Minister declared that four or five other birds from other roosting in Nagaland will also be tagged.
The two falcons – named Naga and Pangti – tagged in 2013 have already made two rounds from Mongolia to South Africa via Nagaland and have again returned to Nagaland this year. The Minister said, “Today, the world has recognised Pangti village in Nagaland as the world’s Amur Falcon capital, as more than one million birds can be seen in just 30 minutes. It is a very rare and exciting sight.”
The conservation of Amur falcon is a great success story for India, as it has happened with peoples’ participation, he said while addressing a gathering of local people, conservators and forest officials.
“The people who were earlier killing the bird are now working for its conservation, thanks to proper motivation, training and mindset changes effected by various wildlife conservation bodies, activists and the Church,” the Union Minister said, adding that with proper conservation methods, the birds will be attracted in larger numbers.
“The Centre and state government would jointly take measures to promote infrastructure and eco-tourism in the entire Amur Falcon area. This is community conservation, which must be applauded,” he said. Amur falcons are the longest travelling raptors in the world and come to Doyang every year in millions.
Amur falcons, weigh just 150 grams and cover 5,600 kms, flying non-stop in five days from Mongolia to arrive in Nagaland. Until recently, Naga tribesmen used to hunt thousands of Amur falcons for meat. But last year, after a vigorous campaign by wildlife activists, they pledged to protect the bird and since then, not a single bird has been hunted in the area, an official statement said.
